Intercourse, by: Andrea Dworkin - Feminish

for Charles to accept her. Her interrogators were persuaded ofher authenticity. Joan then asked Charles for the sword of St.Catherine of Fierbois, a patron saint of escaped criminals andprisoners of war; the sword was found where Joan said it wouldbe, in a nearby shrine to St. Catherine, hidden behind the altar,covered with rust that disappeared when it was rubbed; on thesword there were five crosses and the names of Jesus and Mary.Joan received the sword and fought with it.She dictated a letter to the English king and the Duke of Bedford,head of the occupying army in Orleans, demanding thatthe English leave: “ and if you do not do so, you will remember itby reason of your great sufferings. ” 13 On April 28, 1429, themarch on Orleans, led by Joan the Maid, began. On April 29,Joan entered Orleans at the head of her army. On May 8, theEnglish retreated. She then led and won a series of other victoriesover a period of months, securing for the French several villagesand towns and driving the English back. Joan thenpersuaded Charles to go to Rheims to be crowned. Rheims wasfar away, through territory occupied by the English. Combatand famine nearly caused the men to turn back, but Joan persistedin her strategizing and persuasion; and the English abdicatedyet more territory. Charles became King of France inRheims. Joan continued to fight for the king in many campaigns,including an assault, which she led, on Paris: it failed. On May23, 1430, at the age of eighteen, she was captured in Compiegne.Some say that French soldiers, jealous of her, blocked her escape.It was her courage, according to an enemy eyewitness, thatled to her capture. The French were retreating and Joan,passing the nature o f women, took all the brunt, and took greatpains to save her company, remaining behind as captain and